A short 1 min video from June, 2025 – November, 2025
The Beginning, In Reverse*
Content note: brain surgery, hospitalization, Lyme disease, recovery, and healing. If that feels too heavy, please skip, start at the 2nd paragraph, and/or watch the video – it’s 98% joy and progress!
On June 10th, 2025, I had brain surgery. The tumor is called an Astrocytoma grade 2, which is the lowest grade of that type of tumor. It was at the top layer of the left frontal lobe of my brain. It was successfully removed. The surgery went extremely well thanks to UCSF and my incredible medical team who made it happen seamlessly. I was home in under 72 hrs, recovering, when I began to develop unexpected symptoms. Long story short (details later), I had a severe allergic reaction to Dexamethasone, a steroid used to reduce brain swelling. This took me back to the neuro ICU for 7 days and then a step-down care unit for 5 more. Between the anesthesia, steroids, and antibiotics used before, for, and post surgery, the Lyme Disease (which had been in remission) resurfaced. This is my 3rd time having Lyme Disease, also known as tick-borne infection(s). This was in no way UCSF’s fault. There’s simply & unfortunately no research. More on that later…
Now for the healing part!
Recovery has been slow yet steady. No day is easy, but I’ve made & continue to make progress every day, week, and month. There are a multitude of feelings that have come up, but the main ones now are gratitude, relief, resilience, and perseverance. I’m really proud of myself.
I’ve been spending my time in our beautiful backyard, resting, reading, journaling, listening to music, walking, taking photos, meditating, and have a home yoga practice that I do every single evening before bed. I recently started virtual dance classes, which have been a blast (+ very inclusive)!
AND…🥁
… I’ve started riding horses again, which is pure therapy for me.
Next up: driving (I’ve started but not on multiple lane freeways or highways yet), hikes in the forest & mountains, more beach time, and stand-up paddle boarding.
I feel deeply loved and supported by my family, friends, & communities. Also my UCSF team, Lyme doctor, therapist, psychiatrist, & chiropractor. One of my meditation teachers, Mel Schweder, refers to this as your “team of light.” This “team” includes humans: those here with us and those in spirit alongside us, plants & animals. I’m often told, “Jenny, you bring sunshine – never lose that.” I hold this close as I move toward full health. And that’s exactly where I’m headed.
Thank you, from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul, to my “team of light” for your love, prayers, cards, visits, time, thoughts, calls, texts, flowers, & beyond.
Too many more folks to name, thank, mention, etc. but you know who you are. 💖
I kept all of this private until recently, so if you didn’t know, it’s 100% ok.
*A similar version of this was posted to social media. So if you feel like you’ve read it, you have.
That being said, the rest of the posts are new.
Xx ❣️
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